The Good Spirit School Division board of trustees has passed the division’s 2015-2016 budget with a focus on student outcomes.
“The Government of Saskatchewan’s Vision 2020 continues to play an important part in budgeting,” said Dwayne Reeve, outgoing director of education. “With key targets as part of the Saskatchewan Growth Plan including reducing the difference in graduation rates between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal students by 50 per cent by 2020 as well as leading the country in Grade 12 graduation rates by 2020, we need to make key investments now to make these goals a reality.”
Those investments include expanding literacy resources beyond primary levels; appointment of an additional superintendent of education with a focus on student support services; and appointment of a distributed learning coordinator to expand learning opportunities.
“Our priority is to allocate resources to maintain current operations with a special focus on our motto of ‘Students Come First’,” stated Lois Smandych, board chair.
Other budget highlights included: realignment of the human resources department with the appointment of an HR superintendent and executive assistant with the hope of maximizing efficiency; addition of a transportation assistant; continuation of the division’s bus renewal program (10 new buses a year); and addition of vice-principals at Churchbridge Public and P.J. Gillen Schools to keep up with growing enrolment.
Sherry Todosichuk, superintendent of business administration, said her focus is ensuring accountability.
“Transparency always plays a key role in discussions and included numerous meetings with both senior administration as well as board members before determining the finalized budget,” she said. “Administration has taken the board directive that the budget include a defined focus on aligning resources so that areas such as staffing, supports for learning, and health and safety are targeted to ensure dollars meet identified needs.”
The budget totals more than $80 million in revenues and expenditures.
